The Mid-week Morning Musings are now over…. the book trolley will return next semester but perhaps taking a tour of the studios rather than being in the one place… It has been interesting to gather around in the Long Gallery to catch up with people as they pass by or to just sit and read together.

I think a more focussed form of reading needs to take place next semester, so watch out for information on reading material that we will all read together and then discuss as a group.

In the meantime is you are looking for a different kind of ramble try the exercise below.

LIBRARY RAMBLE

We often use the library in a very restricted way, searching for a particular book and going directly to it. This exercise introduces an element of chance into the process to give a different way of negotiating all this information.

Books are located on level 3 or 4, so I suggest you use a coin to decide which floor you investigate (for example heads level 3, tails level 4)

The catalogue numbers are generally a three figure number, tear up 10 pieces of paper and label them 0 – 9. Fold them up and randomly select a piece of paper from the 10 pieces (do this three times, returning your selected number back each time).

The numbers are then followed by a set of three letters referencing the author’s name.  Repeat the exercise out lined above but use letters of the alphabet instead of numbers. You may have to go to the nearest approximation with this, use your judgment.

Do this three times and see where it leads you…… Perhaps you end up looking at a book about organic chemistry or the physical geography of Wales who knows. Approach the information you come across with an open mind. Get the books out of the library for a week or more and explore them further.

You can repeat this as many times as you want or think up new systems for books selection such as random selection of page numbers to lead you to the next book or perhaps a set of physical directions dictated by the toss of a coin or a roll of the dice.

Enjoy!